We started FY 2021 with an increase in extramural funding over the prior year. This increased funding helped to boost the School of Medicine’s national research profile. More importantly, the overall growth in research translated into positive impact for our community. I highlight here only two of many possible examples.

The Center for Women’s Cardiovascular and Brain Health, one of four programs funded as part of the $24 million Krueger v. Wyeth cy pres settlement award, opened in May under the leadership of Professor Amparo Villablanca. The Center will include the work of cardiovascular, bioinformatics and computational scientists as well as neuropathologists and behavioral and population health scientists, while providing clinical care to women of underserved populations in our community.

The Oak Park Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center opened on June 6. The center is a new home for a material testing laboratory, cell and molecular biology facilities, tissue culture facilities, microscopy laboratory, microsurgery suite and computing facilities.

There have also been some notable awards for research teams this year. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, professor of clinical internal medicine, led a team from the Center for Reducing Health Disparities and the Clinical and Translational Science Center on an interdisciplinary project in mental health for underserved communities in Solano County, and was recognized by the AAMC as an exemplar of community- engaged participatory research. Alicia Agnoli, assistant professor of family and community medicine, received the prestigious designation of a Top Ten research achievement award as well as a Distinguished Clinical Research Achievement Award (Top 3) by the Clinical Research Forum for her work on adverse effects of rapid opioid tapering, which was published in JAMA.

This is just a brief glimpse of our exciting year in SOM research. We continue forward with the support of our leadership, including Interim SOM Dean Susan Murin and Vice Dean for Research, Kim Barrett, who have brought new energy to our efforts. There are also two active workgroups related to our research goals that are developing tactics to implement our strategic plan related to research. Here’s to a great year ahead!

Ted Wun M.D., FACP

Associate Dean for Research for the School of Medicine

Director and Principal Investigator, Clinical and Translational Science Center

Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology

Featured in Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Willis Bowman, fellow in the Pulmonary and Critical Care program, is first author of an article published in the June 2022 Lancet Respiratory Medicine, "Proteomic biomarkers of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease: a multicentre cohort analysis." This article details a study in which a

proteomic analysis was used to identify novel plasma biomarkers of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease and develop a proteomic signature to predict this phenotype. Several of Bowman’s colleagues in the division of Pulmonary and Critical care are co-authors of this study, including project scientist Angela Linderholm, fellow Janelle Vu Pugashetti, junior specialist Vivian Vo, clinical research coordinator Gabrielle Echt, resident William Leon, and assistant professor Justin Oldham.

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“A woman’s right to ultimately decide if and when she becomes pregnant is the cornerstone of her ability to achieve what she desires in life for herself and her family.” – Mitchell Creinin

On June 24, the US Supreme Court ruled for the defendant in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Care Organization, reversing two landmark contraceptive cases, including Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion access in this country for fifty years. Abortion access across the country has begun to fall under newly adopted state regulations and an uncertain legal landscape threatens the work of medical professionals both in clinical practice and research.

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UC Davis Children's Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Team

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and improve understanding of children with craniofacial differences. UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s Cleft and Craniofacial Team, co-led by Craig Senders, professor emeritus of pediatric otolaryngology, and Travis Tollefson, professor and division chief of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, is a patient-centered group of interdisciplinary professionals providing care to these children. ...

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